Five Autograph Letters and Notes, signed ("Roland Barthes" or "RB"), to New York scholar and professor Tom Bishop

Barthes, Roland

Published by Paris, 1979

About this Item

Ink on paper. 8vo and smaller. The renowned French author and critic Roland Barthes writes to his New York University colleague Tom Bishop a series of notes and letters, the earliest a note on an engraved calling card dated 17 February 1978, regretting an invitation but hoping to see Bishop while he is in Paris, and recommending a candidate for a position; the second, dated 5 May 1978, "cher ami, je suis très heureux que vous ayez pu choisir Philippe Roger, c est un très bon choix: süreté de l intelligence, culture, aventure, et amicalité … je serai content de vous voir, de bavarder avec vous." In a long autograph letter on airmail paper (wrinkled at edges and with loss of lower left corner), Barthes accepts a proposal to give a talk at NYU, "Pour le suject, je vous le preciserai la prochaine fois: ce sera ou mon rapport à la langue (ou langage) ou le rapport novueau de la biographie de de l oeuvre … Je ne pourrai malheureusement parler qu en français, mais peut être pourras tu prévoir en plus une interview très brève que je lirai moi-même dans mon mauvais anglais, à voir." He proposes available dates, noting that a window from mid-December to early January works best as he has an invitation to attend a round table on Sexuality and Text in late December. A typed letter, signed, thanking Bishop for welcoming him to New York and acknowledging receeipt of the cheque in reimbursement of travel expenses. A card dated 6 June 1979 says that Bishop s letter caught him just as he is leaving for two weeks in Greece, "tentation de vacance". CHOICE BARTHES CORRESPONDENCE WITH A TRANSATLANTIC FLAVOR. Minor wrinkles, corners of two letters defective, signature on letter dated 5 May 1978 slightly torn, others generally fine.

Seller Inventory # 366064

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Five Autograph Letters and Notes, signed ("Roland Barthes" or "RB"), to New York scholar and professor Tom Bishop
• Publisher: Paris
• Publication Date: 1979
• Binding: Ink on paper. 8vo and smaller
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Literature